Abstract
Nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs) infect various marine eukaryotes. However, little is known about NCLDV diversity and their relationships with eukaryotic hosts in marine environments, the elucidation of which will advance the current understanding of marine ecosystems. This study characterizes the interplay between NCLDVs and the eukaryotic plankton community (EPC) in the sub-Arctic area using metagenomics and metabarcoding to investigate NCLDVs and EPC, respectively, in the Kongsfjorden ecosystem of Svalbard (Norway) in April and June 2018. Gyrodinium helveticum (Dinophyceae) is the most prevalent eukaryotic taxon in the EPC in April, during which time Mimiviridae (31.8%), Poxviridae (25.1%), Phycodnaviridae (14.7%) and Pandoraviridae (13.1%) predominate. However, in June, the predominant taxon is Aureococcus anophagefferens (Pelagophyceae), and the NCLDVs, Poxviridae (32.9%), Mimiviridae (29.1%), and Phycodnaviridae (18.5%) appear in higher proportions with an increase in Pelagophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, and Chlorophyta groups. Thus, differences in NCLDVs may be caused by changes in EPC composition in response to environmental changes, such as increases in water temperature and light intensity. Taken together, these findings are particularly relevant considering the anticipated impact of NCLDV-induced EPC control mechanisms on polar regions and, therefore, improve the understanding of the Sub-Arctic Kongsfjorden ecosystem.